Among the key figures of domestic humor, Lieutenant Rzhevsky stands out. The people endowed him with quite peculiar traits: he is known as a foul-mouthed, lewd, alcoholic, and party-goer, yet he always keeps his word, is fearless in battle, resourceful, and deeply loves his Motherland. The appearance of Lieutenant Rzhevsky is often associated with the image of a hussar played by Yuri Yakovlev in the film 'The Hussar Ballad.' But the question arises: did a real prototype of Lieutenant Rzhevsky exist?

Some researchers believe that nine Russian regions can claim to be the homeland of this dashing cavalryman. However, in the Tula region, a man was found who most closely fits this description, Ensign Sergey Rzhevsky. Contemporaries recalled that he 'misbehaved shamelessly, often in a very vulgar manner.' For example, once he received an invitation to a masquerade and, to surprise the guests, approached the task creatively. Sergey Rzhevsky made a costume of an oven and created two doors for it, one in the front and one in the back. On them, he wrote 'do not open the oven, there is carbon monoxide,' then climbed inside completely naked and appeared at the ball in that state. The forbidden inscription provoked the curious to open the door, and they either saw Rzhevsky's genitals or his buttocks. Some found it funny, while others were outraged. In the end, Rzhevsky was asked to leave the hall.

Another incident is also known. In one monastery, Rzhevsky took a liking to a pretty nun. He approached her from behind almost closely and began to bow very low, practically pressing against her. The embarrassed nun gradually backed away, and when there was nowhere to go, the abbess intervened. She ordered two other nuns to escort the hussar out. But as soon as they approached Rzhevsky, he suddenly grabbed their hands and pulled them along with him, exclaiming: 'Here comes the splendid troika.' Nothing is known about Rzhevsky's military exploits, but his adventures in peaceful life still lift many spirits!